"Weak-kneed muggles
may recoil from 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.' Dubbed 'Scary
Potter' in the British press, the latest screen adaptation of J.K.
Rowling's increasingly dark books is the first in the franchise to
be slapped with a PG-13 rating."[1]

As the movie begins,
Harry Potter is dreaming. A large serpent slithers out of the darkness,
and Harry hears the cold, hissing voice of the murderous Voldemort.
This evil wizard -- whose body had been decimated during a futile attempt
to kill Harry thirteen years earlier -- is instructing his groveling
servant Wormtail. Their deadly plot would require Harry's life. "I will
not disappoint you, my Lord," Wormtail promises.

This nightmare
introduces a major theme of the story: Voldemort is planning his return
to a physical body through a blood sacrifice involving the 14-year-old
student wizard.

Compared to Voldemort's
wicked plans and heartless brutality, Harry's magical training seems
downright good. So when the dark scene above is replaced with Ron Weasley's
fun-loving home (where Harry and Hermione are finishing up their summer
break), all seems well. Who cares if these friendly folks are all witches
and wizards? Here paganism seems normal! Never mind that the supernatural
forces they manipulate correspond to those of Satan rather than God.
In this enticing setting, the occult realm feels good to the unthinking
audience. .

Those affirming
feelings are important. They help the audience identify with the "good"
wizards and -- through the imagination -- participate in the action.
When Harry triumphs, the viewers share the exultation. When danger threatens,
they feel Harry's anxiety. This emotional bond silences the moral reasoning
that should warn Christians that this plot is displeasing to our Lord.

Led by Mr. Weasley,
the group hurries to a hilltop "portkey" which magically transports
them to the celebrated Quidditch World Cup festivities. But the popular
event is interrupted by an invasion of Voldemort's Death Eaters. As
this ruthless horde spreads fire and destruction, the spectators flee
for their lives.

The students return
to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. They are greeted by
a new, less gentlemanly version of Professor Dumbledore, who introduces
the Triwizard Tournament. Like the real-world Olympics, this international
contest is supposed to build peace and co-operation between diverse
pagan groups.

Its three contestants
are magically chosen by the Goblet of Fire. Surrounded by what looks
like a ritual "sacred circle," this "sacred" goblet spews out three
names that are read by Dumbledore and cheered by the crowd. But the
goblet has a surprise in store. A fourth name appears: Harry Potter.
Some complain that the famed wizard is too young to qualify, but the
goblet's choice prevails.

Mad-eye Moody,
the new Defense of the Dark Arts, helps Harry prepare the spells and
curses needed for victory in the upcoming tournament. But this undercover
agent for Voldemort is no true friend. Though he teaches Harry defensive
strategies, his classroom instructions expose his values and puts these
shocking suggestions into young minds:

"Reducio," said
Moody softly. "You don't need thumbscrews or knives to torture someone
if you can perform the Cruciatus Curse.... Anyone know any other [spells]?

Hermione's hand
shook slightly as, for the third time, she raised it into the air.

"Yes?" said Moody,
looking at her.

"Avada Kedavra,"
Hermione whispered. ...

"Ah,"
said Moody, another slight smile twisting his lopsided mouth. "Yes,
the last and the worst. Avada Kedavra... the Killing Curse."[3]

I'm not saying
that the movie would drive its audience to actually torture or kill
anyone. The effects of these suggestions are far more subtle. They fit
into the
dialectic process -- conceived by occultist Georg Hegel and embraced
by Marx and Lenin and other revolutionaries. This process calls for
social change through continual exposure to opposing beliefs and values
(thesis versus antithesis). The tension or conflict created by those
contradictions prompt traditional thinkers to compromise and conform
to an evolving consensus (synthesis). Christians are not immune to this
mind-changing process.

The goal of this
revolutionary process is to change the way most people think and relate.
The contrary suggestions will gradually "free" minds from the old absolute
truths and values of the Bible. After a while, people will no longer
react negatively to the evils that God abhors. Their conscience is desensitized.
Everything becomes tolerable except Biblical truth, which exposes sin
and draws a politically incorrect dividing line between what God calls
good and evil.

Human nature naturally
delights in occult or violent entertainment! In ancient Rome, the thrill-seeking
masses flocked into the huge Coliseum to be energized by gory gladiators
and Christian martyrs torn by hungry lions. Centuries later, during
the anti-Protestant Inquisition, the crowds gathered to watch the bloody
spectacles of hanging, burning, beheading and quartering. Only a few
decades ago, the evil Darth Vader became the most popular Star Wars
character. And today, the public's growing thirst for blood and gore
is partly quenched through vicious games and movies. Do you wonder what
will satisfy that craving ten years from now?

Knowing our weaknesses
better than we know ourselves, God rebuked his rebellious people long
ago with these words:

"You love evil
more than good...." Psalm 52:3

"All those who
hate me love death.” Proverb 8:36

"Woe
to those who call evil good, and good evil...." Isaiah 5:20-21

The final showdown
with Voldemort demonstrates most of the forbidden "abominations" listed
in Deuteronomy 18:9-12: witchcraft, sorcery, spellcasting, spiritism,
and necromancy (communicating with the dead). "All who do these things,"
warned Moses, "are an abomination to the Lord..."

That list of timeless
occult practices is a warning, not only to those who actually participate
in occultism, but also to those who merely imagine the these things.
Jesus explained this principle in the context of immorality: “You have
heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28

The transformational
power of the imagination
is documented in a study by International Journal of Adolescent Medicine
& Health:

“The
world of imagination and fantasy can help pass on to the child cultural
and social messages [and] function as a way to experience vicariously
things an individual could not do first-hand.”[4]

In light of these
warnings, ponder this last scene:

"...suddenly,
the sparks emanating from the cauldron were extinguished... Through
the mist in front of him, he [Harry] saw, with an icy surge of terror,
the dark outline of a man, tall and skeletally thin, rising slowly
from inside the cauldron.... Whiter than a skull, with wide, livid
scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake's with slits for
nostrils.... Lord Voldemort had risen again." (643)

"He knew he was
facing the thing against which Moody had always warned... the unblockable
Avada Kedavra curse -- and Voldemort was right -- his mother was not
here to die for him this time." (660)

"Voldemort's
dead victims whispered as they circled the dueler.... And now another
head was emerging from the tip of Voldemort's wand.... Harry, his
arms shaking madly now, looked back into the ghostly face of his father.
'Your mother's coming...' he said quietly. 'She wants to see you....
When the connection is broken, we will linger for only moments....
you must get to the Portkey, it will return you to Hogwarts.'...

"'Accio!'
Harry yelled, pointing his wand at the Triwizard Cup. It flew into the
air and soared toward him. Harry caught it by the handle. He heard Voldemort's
scream of fury at the same moment that he felt the jerk behind his navel
that meant the Portkey had worked -- it was speeding him away in a whirl
of wind and color, and Cedric with him.... They were going back." (667-669)

The movie mentions
Harry's choice "between what is right and what is easy." Harry had supposedly
chosen what was "right." At least, that's how today's pluralistic, amoral
world would see it. But would Harry's choices be "right" for Christians?
Of course not!

Today's emphasis
on group conformity and consensus builds an ever-changing moral and
spiritual understanding. An important part in that process of change
is cognitive dissonance -- mental or emotional confusion. It occurs
when people think or act in ways that may feel right but clashes with
their Bible-based conscience. The natural or most comfortable way to
resolve this confusion or dissonance is simply to adapt their moral
understanding to the new situation.

For children tutored
in paganism by popular authors, movie producers, and computer programmers,
there may be no turning back. The images they imprint on their minds
cannot be erased by the human will. Aldous Huxley summarized it well
in The Doors of Perception: "The man who comes back through the Door
in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out."[5]

We would be foolish
to ignore the restless cravings stirred by imagined experiences in forbidden
realms. A little dabbling in the occult usually fuels urges to explore
other practices. It doesn't matter whether seekers pursue Eastern pantheism,
Western witchcraft, or create their own personal blend. In our times,
these all fit together. [See The
Rising World Religion] Whether packaged for our youth as D&D, yoga
or Hogwarts School for Witchcraft or Wizardry, they desensitize their
captive fans to the dangers of occult forces. And all too often they
become irresistible to the enthusiastic victim.

On the other hand,
each time we say "no" to the ever present temptation to accept the world's
counterfeit gods, idols, thoughts and ways, we honor God and strengthen
our will to resist. When we set our minds to know, love, and follow
Him, He gives us the power and perseverance to triumph over the world's
counterfeit promises, tempting deceptions, and painful persecution.

"For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to
the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ...." --2 Corinthians
10:4-5

Berit
Kjos is a widely respected researcher, writer and conference speaker.
A frequent guest on national radio and television programs, Kjos has been
interviewed on Point of View (Marlin Maddoux), The 700 Club, Bible Answer
Man, Beverly LaHaye Live, Crosstalk and Family Radio Network. She has
also been a guest on "Talk Back Live" (CNN) and other secular
radio and TV networks. Her last two books are A Twist of Faith and
Brave New Schools.Kjos
Ministries Web Site: http://www.crossroad.to/index.html